The holiday 2009 movie season gets off to an appropriate start with a new 3D version of the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, with Jim Carrey in many ghostly guises. That’s not the only 3D event this season: Titanic director unveils his first feature in 12 years, the eagerly awaited and undoubtedly groundbreaking 3D fantasy adventure Avatar. Other spectacles include the mayhem of 2012, the starry female ensemble of Nine, a kung-fu Sherlock Holmes, and the supernatural teens of Twilight: New Moon. Oscar winner Peter Jackson returns with a poignant change of pace, Morgan Freeman stars as Nelson Mandela, George Clooney appears in no less than three movies, and Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin form a comic triangle for the older demographic. May we suggest a gift certificate for your favorite theatre circuit?

November Highlights
Cameron Diaz and James Marsden play a couple who must decide if they want to open The Box that will both give them $1 million and cause the death of a random person. Directed by Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko), the thriller is based on the short story “Button, Button,” which was previously adapted into a “Twilight Zone” segment. (Warner Bros., Nov. 6)

A Christmas Carol uses CGI performance capture to tell the story of Charles Dickens’ famed misanthrope Ebenezer Scrooge and his visits from the Spirits of Christmas, courtesy of the medium’s pioneer, Robert Zemeckis (The Polar Express, Beowulf). Jim Carrey plays Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Gary Oldman and Robin Wright Penn co-star. (Disney, Nov. 6)

George Clooney stars as a U.S. operative in the dark comedy The Men Who Stare at Goats, which is based on a nonfiction book about military experiments involving telepathy. Clooney is tailed by a reporter (Ewan McGregor) as they try to find the hippie founder of the program (Jeff Bridges) and have run-ins with a renegade psychic (Kevin Spacey). Clooney’s producing partner Grant Heslov makes his directing debut. (Overture, Nov. 6)

A Sundance and Toronto audience award winner, Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire follows the struggles of an obese girl (Gabourey Sidibe) in 1980s Harlem, who suffers abuse from her mother (Mo’Nique) and father, but gains strength as she learns how to read in a class taught by a sympathetic teacher (Paula Patton). Lee Daniels, producer of Monster’s Ball, directed. (Lionsgate, Nov. 6)

Wes Anderson applies his signature style to stop-motion animation in Fantastic Mr. Fox. Based on the beloved children’s book by Roald Dahl, Anderson’s adaptation is much more grown-up, and features the suave vocal stylings of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray. (20th Century Fox, Nov. 13)

A U.S. Army officer (Ben Foster) who has returned from Iraq is assigned to the Casualty Notification service in The Messenger. He finds himself attracted to a young widow (Samantha Morton) as he deals with his difficult assignment and his own war scars. Woody Harrelson co-stars for director Oren Moverman. (Oscilloscope, Nov. 13)

The renegade group in Pirate Radio broadcast rock ’n’ roll music from a tanker just outside of British jurisdiction in the 1960s. They include Philip Seymour Hoffman as “The Count” and Bill Nighy as the ship’s captain, who receives a series of visits from a godson (Tom Sturridge) who is in search of his father. Richard Curtis (Love, Actually) wrote and directed the seagoing tale. (Focus, Nov. 13)

Disaster addicts will see their favorite monuments crumble in 2012, the new spectacle from director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow). John Cusack stars as a sci-fi writer trying to save his family when an apocalypse foreseen by the Mayans comes to pass. (Columbia, Nov. 13)

The Young Victoria stars Emily Blunt as the newly crowned Queen of England. In the first years of her reign, she withstands numerous intrigues in her court, all while entering a romance with Prince Albert (Rupert Friend). Canada’s Jean-Marc Vallée directed from a script by Gosford Park Oscar winner Julian Fellowes. (Apparition, Nov. 18).

The Blind Side dramatizes the true story of a homeless black teenager (Quinton Aaron) who is taken in by a wealthy white couple (Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw). Under their care, he pursues his education and goes on to become an All-American college football player. John Lee Hancock (The Rookie) directed. (Warner Bros., Nov. 20)

A complex romantic mystery from renowned Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, Broken Embraces stars Penélope Cruz as a call girl who marries a wealthy businessman who helps finance her career as a film actress. When she falls in love with her director (Lluis Homar), the consequences are tragic. (Sony Pictures Classics, Nov. 20)

Computer-animated Planet 51 reverses the usual extraterrestrial story by making the astronaut the alien. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson voices an astronaut who lands on Planet 51 and is taken in by a green-faced alien boy. Pursued by authorities in the surprisingly suburban-looking town, he must get back to his ship before it leaves without him. (TriStar, Nov. 20)

Historical epic Red Cliff, the most expensive Chinese movie ever made, brings to life the Battle of Red Cliff that occurred in 208 A.D. at the end of the Han Dynasty. The confrontation pits a power-hungry Han general against two warlords, who are forced to retreat before they decide to band together with a rival warlord to defeat the Han army. John Woo (Mission: Impossible II, Face/Off) directed. (Magnet, Nov. 20)

In Twilight: New Moon, the romance between vampire Edward and mortal Bella becomes a love triangle. Distraught over an incident during which Bella is almost killed by a helplessly bloodthirsty relative, Edward leaves the young woman. Bella then begins a romance with her quiet Native American classmate Jake, who turns out to be a werewolf, a vampire’s mortal enemy. Chris Weitz (The Golden Compass) directed the second chapter in the pop phenomenon. (Summit, Nov 20)

Set during theatrical wunderkind Orson Welles’ celebrated staging of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in 1937, Me and Orson Welles takes the point of view of a young, aspiring actor (Zac Efron) who spends a hectic week with the Mercury Theatre Company and falls in love with an older woman (Claire Danes). Film newcomer Christian McKay gives an uncanny performance as Welles in the new film from director Richard Linklater (School of Rock, Before Sunset). (Freestyle, Nov. 25)

A bachelor (John Travolta) and a divorced man (Robin Williams) are tasked with taking care of six-year-old twins in Old Dogs. Totally inept, and distracted by a looming business deal, they fall into one hapless situation after another. Justin Long, Seth Green, Kelly Preston, Matt Dillon, Lori Laughlin and Dax Shepard co-star in the new comedy from director Walt Becker (Wild Hogs). (Disney, Nov. 25)

Disney returns to hand-drawn animation with The Princess and the Frog, set in 1920s New Orleans. The movie introduces the studio’s first African-American princess, Tiana, who turns into a frog after agreeing to kiss a frog prince. The amphibian duo embark on adventures and voodoo encounters as they try to return to their original human selves. (Disney, Nov. 25)

Set in a post-apocalyptic America, The Road focuses on a man and boy who traverse the country in an effort to stay alive. Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce, Robert Duvall and newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee head the cast. John Hillcoat (The Proposition) directed the film, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Cormac McCarthy. (Weinstein Co., Nov. 25)

Also in November
William Hurt, Chiwetel Ejiofor (American Gangster), Jonny Lee Miller, Mark Strong (Body of Lies), Derek Jacobi and Clarke Peters star in Endgame, a drama about the behind-the-scenes negotiations to end apartheid in South Africa in 1985. Peter Travis directed. (Monterey Media, Nov. 6)

The Fourth Kind refers to the highest level of alien interaction: abduction. A psychologist (Milla Jovovich) discovers her traumatized patients all have similar stories, a thrilling discovery which may explain the high number of missing people reported in the Nome, Alaska area. Olatunde Osunsanmi wrote and directed the thriller. (Universal, Nov. 6)

In That Evening Sun, an aging man escapes from his retirement home and returns to his Tennessee farm, only to discover his son has leased it to his enemy. Incensed, he takes up residence in a tenant shack and starts a grudge war against the new renter and his family. Hal Holbrook, Ray McKinnon, Walton Goggins (“The Shield”), Carrie Preston (“True Blood”) and Dixie Carter head the cast of Scott Teems’ film. (Freestyle, Nov. 6)

Newcomer Donal Gallery stars in the ’70s tale Turning Green as a young man sent from America to Ireland after the death of his mother. Eager to return, he sells girlie magazines to fund a trip back to the States. Timothy Hutton, Alessandro Nivola and Colm Meaney fill supporting roles. (New Films Int’l, Nov. 6)

The documentary Four Seasons Lodge takes us inside the annual reunion of Holocaust survivors in the Catskills. Their survival and longevity, which they joke is revenge against Hitler, reveals truths about life and loss. (First Run, Nov. 11)

Three high-school seniors (Emmy Rossum, Ashley Springer, Zach Gilford) decide to take one big risk before they enter the real world in Dare. (Image Entertainment, Nov. 13)

Filmmaker Peter Rodger travels the world asking everyday people, celebrities and spiritual leaders the question “What is God?” in the documentary Oh My God. Among the more familiar faces to appear are Hugh Jackman, Ringo Starr, Bob Geldof, Seal and David Coppefield. (Gussi and Mitropoulos Films, Nov. 13)

Until the Light Takes Us documents the black-metal scene in Norway, whose followers use music and symbolic death to express their views to the world. Aaron Aites and Audrey Ewell directed. (Variance Films, Nov. 20)

Women in Trouble follows ten women with careers ranging from flight attendant to psychiatrist to call girl, who are all trying to get out of difficult situations. Writer-director Sebastian Gutierrez’s ensemble cast includes Carla Gugino, Adrienne Palicki (“Friday Night Lights”), Connie Britton, Emmanuelle Chriqui (“Entourage”), Simon Baker (“The Mentalist”), Josh Brolin and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. (Screen Media, Nov. 13)

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans stars Nicolas Cage as a high-functioning addict who uses his position as a cop to score drugs and defy the law. When Hurricane Katrina devastates the area, his destructive behavior intensifies, and he descends deeper and deeper along with the prostitute (Eva Mendes) with whom he has fallen in love. Werner Herzog directed this follow-up to the memorable 1992 Abel Ferrara film that starred a naked Harvey Keitel. (First Look, Nov. 20)

Israeli filmmaker Yoav Shamir explores the topic of anti-Semitism in the 21st century in Defamation, winner of a Special Jury Prize at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. (First Run, Nov. 20)

In Fix, two filmmakers, Bella (Olivia Wilde) and Milo (Tao Ruspoli), race around Los Angeles trying to raise $5,000 to send Milo’s brother to rehab and help him avoid a three-year jail sentence. (Lafco & Mangusta Prods., Nov. 20)

An orphan raised by a secret society seeks revenge on his clan after they kill his friend in Ninja Assassin. Korean superstar Rain co-stars opposite Naomie Harris of the Pirates of the Caribbean films in this actioner directed by vengeance specialist James McTeigue (V for Vendetta). (Warner Bros., Nov. 25)

In Drool, an abused woman accidentally kills her husband and sets off on a road trip with her two kids, her best friend, and her husband’s body in the trunk. Nancy Kissam’s tale won the screenplay competition award at Slamdance. (Strand Releasing, November)

A private detective (Michael Shannon) is hired to follow a man on a cross-country train ride in The Missing Person. He soon discovers the man vanished after 9/11 and was presumed dead. Amy Ryan, Margaret Colin, Linda Emond and Yul Vazquez co-star for director Noah Buschel. (Strand Releasing, November)

The Danish import Terribly Happy centers on a Copenhagen police officer who is transferred to a small village. His urban sensibilities put him at odds with the mysterious townspeople, and lead him to a dalliance with a married femme fatale. Henrik Ruben Genz directed. (Oscilloscope Laboratories, November)



December Highlights
In Brothers, a U.S. Marine (Tobey Maguire) goes MIA in Afghanistan, his freewheeling brother (Jake Gyllenhaal) helps take care of his presumed widow (Natalie Portman), and the two develop a bond. Then the husband returns home, psychologically ravaged by the war, creating a tense domestic triangle. Jim Sheridan (In America) directed this remake of an acclaimed 2004 Danish drama. (Lionsgate, Dec. 4)

Everybody’s Fine stars Robert De Niro as a gruff widower who falls out of touch with his children after the death of his wife. After they decline invitations to visit, he goes on a road trip to visit his children, played by Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell. Kirk Jones adapted and directed the film, which is based on the 1990 Italian movie Stanno Tutti Bene. (Miramax, Dec. 4)

George Clooney plays a high-powered downsizing expert in Up in the Air. Close to accruing his ten-millionth mile, and just after meeting the woman of his dreams (Vera Farmiga) in an airport frequent-flyer lounge, he finds his jet-setting way of life suddenly thrown into turmoil. Jason Reitman (Juno) directed the Toronto Film Festival hit. (Paramount, Dec. 4)

Invictus takes us to South Africa to tell the post-apartheid story of Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) and the captain of the country’s rugby team, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon). In an attempt to unite the country, they focus on bringing the underdog team to the 1995 World Cup. Clint Eastwood directed. (Warner Bros., Dec. 11)

Based on the bestselling book, The Lovely Bones is the story of a family recovering after the rape and murder of their daughter (Saoirse Ronan), who narrates the story from heaven. Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci and Michael Imperioli round out the cast. Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings) brings his experience in fantasy worlds and suspense to his role as writer-director. (Paramount/Dreamworks, Dec. 11)

Fashion designer Tom Ford makes an acclaimed directorial debut with A Single Man, a 1960s drama centered on a Los Angeles literature professor grieving over the death of his lover. Colin Firth and Julianne Moore star. (Weinstein Co., Dec. 11)

In Avatar, a paralyzed soldier (Sam Worthington) inhabits a ten-foot tall, blue avatar. Within this body, he navigates the world of the Na’vi, a lush but dangerous realm. Technological innovator James Cameron (Titanic, Aliens) wrote and directed the sci-fi fantasy, which will release in 3D. (20th Century Fox, Dec. 18)

Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant play a couple on the rocks who are sent to the sticks after they witness a murder in Did You Hear About the Morgans? Grizzly bears and bingo help bring the couple together in the romantic comedy directed by Marc Lawrence, his third collaboration with Grant after Two Weeks Notice and Music and Lyrics. (Columbia, Dec. 18)

Based on a Broadway musical that was in turn inspired by the Fellini classic 8 1/2, Nine stars Daniel Day-Lewis as a film director balancing his relationships with his wife (Marion Cotillard), mistress (Penélope Cruz), muse (Nicole Kidman), costume designer (Judi Dench), mother (Sophia Loren), an American journalist (Kate Hudson) and a prostitute (Fergie), while also trying to make his ninth film. Musical veteran Rob Marshall (Chicago) directs. (Weinstein Co., Dec. 18)

In Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, singing rodents Alvin, Simon and Theodore go back to school and sign up for a Battle of the Bands. Intent on winning the $25,000 prize that could save their school’s music program, they encounter unlikely competition in the alluring Chipettes. Jason Lee returns in director Betty Thomas’ follow-up to the 2007 live-action/animated family hit. (20th Century Fox, Dec. 25)

Heath Ledger died during the filming of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and director Terry Gilliam recruited three stars—Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell—to complete his role. That’s just one fascinating aspect of this wild fantasy, in which Christopher Plummer stars as a man with extraordinary powers who makes a wager with the Devil in a desperate ploy to save his teenage daughter (Lily Cole). (Sony Pictures Classics, Dec. 25)

Guy Ritchie (Snatch) directs a modern, kung-fu laced update of Arthur Conan Doyle’s venerable detective, Sherlock Holmes. Watson (Jude Law) and Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.) use a mix of logic and martial arts to outsmart Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong), and Rachel McAdams appears as the alluring Adler. (Warner Bros., Dec. 25)

A mature romance from writer-director Nancy Meyers (Something’s Gotta Give), It’s Complicated stars Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin as a divorced couple who rekindle their romance. Problem is, Baldwin has remarried, and Streep has a new suitor (Steve Martin), an architect working on her home. Unwilling to admit to their romance, they lie and fumble as they try to keep their secret. (Universal, Dec. 25)

Set in a rural town in 1913 Germany, The White Ribbon follows strange and violent events that keep occurring at the local school. Michael Haneke (Funny Games, Caché) directs the fascist parable, winner of the Palme d’Or at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. (Sony Pictures Classics, Dec. 25)

Also in December
In Armored, employees at an armored transport company decide to organize a heist against their own firm—until a witness threatens to wreck their plan. Matt Dillon, Jean Reno, Laurence Fishburne, Milo Ventimiglia (“Heroes”), Skeet Ulrich and Columbus Short get in on the action for director Nimrod Antal (Vacancy). (Screen Gems, Dec. 4)

Serious Moonlight stars Meg Ryan as a lawyer who holds her husband (Timothy Hutton) captive in their house after she finds out he is cheating and plans to leave her. The situation is complicated when his mistress (Kristen Bell) and a gardener (Justin Long) show up. The late Adrienne Shelly (Waitress) wrote the screenplay, and Cheryl Hines (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) directed. (Magnolia, Dec. 4)

The vampire parody Transylmania takes us to a university overrun by vampires, unbeknownst to a group of college students on their semester abroad. (Full Circle Releasing, Dec. 4)

The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond comes from an undiscovered screenplay by Tennessee Williams, and stars Bryce Dallas Howard as a Southern heiress. Intent on flouting convention, she hires a poor worker (Chris Evans) to escort her to social events, but finds herself falling in love with him. Ellen Burstyn, Ann-Margret, Mamie Gummer and Will Patton co-star under the direction of Jodie Markell. (Paladin, December)

In the documentary Nobody’s Perfect, German filmmaker Niko von Glasow, who has short arms because of exposure to Thalidomide as a fetus, finds 11 others like him to pose naked for a photo shoot. (Lorber Films, December)

A chambermaid (Sandrine Bonnaire) is inspired to play chess in Queen to Play. She finds a reclusive doctor (Kevin Kline) for an opponent, who teaches her the game with a side of life lessons. Caroline Bottaro directed. (Liberation Entertainment, December)

All release dates are subject to change.